[Evaluation of nutritive value of daily food rations consumed by children attending to primary schools in Warsaw].

BACKGROUND: Meals served in schools are significant part of proper nutrition of children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare nutritive value of daily food rations intake by children attending to primary schools in Warsaw who consumed school lunches regularly with those who don't consume school lunches.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2009 to 2010, 380 children in age 11-13 years attending to five randomly selected schools from Warsaw were enrolled. Dietary intake was assessed by using 24h dietary recall for 1 day before the egzamination.

RESULTS: 45,5% of examined children declared the consumption school lunches regularly. There was no significant differences in energy and most of the nutrient intake between children who consumed school lunches regularly and children, who didn't eat lunches in school. The exception was sodium and iodine intake which was higher in children who regularly consumed school lunches. Sodium intake in children who consumed school lunches regularly was 3278 +/- 1251 mg and in the group of children who didn't consume lunches in school - 2919 +/- 863 mg (p<0.001). The iodine intake in the group of children who consumed school lunches regularly was 136 +/- 70.5 microg and in the group of children who didn't consume lunches in school - 102 +/- 59 microg (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Regular consumption of school lunches did not improve the nutritional habits of examined school-aged children from Warsaw. Obligatory standards based on nutritional recommendations relating to nutritional value of school lunches should help to improve the schoolchildren nutrition.